Review on Ringlestone Inn

'The Ringlestone is an absolutely gorgeous pub,' was one Mobile Food Guide user's verdict on this isolated inn set high above the North Downs beside a stretch of the Pilgrims' Way. The Ringlestone dates from 1632, and an inscription on the ancient oak sideboard reads 'A Ryghte Joyouse and welcome greetynge to ye all'; inside, it's an evocative mix of ancient breams, timbers from Thames barges, inglenooks and exposed brick walls, and there's an eight-acre landscaped garden outside – complete with ponds.

Hospitality and sustenance are still the order of the day, although today's customers are tourists and road travellers (junction 8 of the M20 is close by) rather than monks on the move. Many people graduate here for the food. At lunchtime there's a substantial hot and cold buffet, with more ambitious specialities offered in the evening. The kitchen is famed for its sausages and pies (lamb with apricot or duck and damson), and it makes good use of locally sourced ingredients.

Real ales from Kentish breweries are tapped from the cask and the pub stocks its own range of around 30 fruit wines, which are often used to flavour particular dishes (chicken and asparagus in cowslip wine, for example).

Brilliant service

Bad attitude

I visited this restaurant with my fiancé and our autistic son this evening and were shocked by the attitude of the management.

We enjoyed a fairly relaxed lunch here a few weeks ago so when I saw the opportunity to get a groupon voucher for two course meal with fruit wine it seemed like a good deal.

I wanted to book the meal as a surprise for my partner and son, so whilst in hospital after having major surgery I used the pubs own website to contact them and reserve a table for three for dinner this evening. When I told my family, they were excited at the chance to have a nice meal together to celebrate my recovery and my sons birthday.

When we arrived at the restaurant I gave my name and handed the groupon voucher to the bar staff, then we were seated and given menus. After a few moments the manager came running out asking if we were the family using the groupon voucher. I replied that we were and we're shocked then to be told that because we had booked online and not on the phone, that we had to pay an additional £2.50 per person to cover the booking costs of the table online. We were told that the voucher clearly stated that we had to telephone to reserve a table. We accepted this as we had no reason to doubt what she was telling us, however her aggression to us at the table left our autistic son feeling very on edge and uncomfortable. Not the best start to an evening.

My son and fiancé ordered starters and main courses, which were covered on the groupon voucher that we had prepaid for. As I had recently had a major operation I could not manage to eat much so I just ordered myself a starter, and all three of us had desserts and drinks which were paid for in full.

Considering we were paying full price for my starter and all our deserts I was cross to see that the three balls of ice cream for £6.00 were absolutely tiny. Each ball of ice cream looked about two inches in diameter. Nothing like the nice sized desert my son had received on our previous visit when he had ordered the same thing. Obviously to an autistic child this was confusing as he was expecting three decent scoops of ice cream. We were very disappointed.

When I went to pay the bill I saw that we were being charged for three of us using the groupon deal and booking online at £2.50 each. After some explaining that I wasn't using a groupon voucher at all for my own meal, they eventually removed one of the three charges. However paying an extra £5.00 for booking online is ridiculous and it is a charge only made to groupon customers. It left a rather bitter taste in my mouth to say the least.

To make matters worse, on returning home I reprinted my groupon voucher to see the fine print and all it states is that you must contact the merchant in advance, quoting groupon, which I did. I dos not specify that this must be by way of a phone call - surely booking a table through the link on their own website is still classed as a form of contact!!!!!

I assumed that they had got my voucher confused with another type so I decided to telephone them as soon as I discovered this to give them the opportunity to reimburse my extra charges but all I received was a rather rude, abrupt and very unprofessional response. When I stated I would leave a review on this website I was told that they would get it taken off by saying I didn't dine there. But I am holding onto my receipts to prove it for any website that query this.The idea of the groupon vouchers is to drum up new business. Once you are in the doors it is for the management and staff to convince you to keep returning. They don't seem to have grasped that idea at all and treat you like a second class customer.

We dine out several times a week and a quiet country pub is the usual sort of destination we choose. We will not in future be choosing to dine here. Let them rip off other customers.

Main dishes Beef Wellington. £25.95 Fillet steak, topped with pate and mushrooms and wrapped in puff pastry, served with a Madeira sauce, cheesy dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal vegetables Vegetable wellington (V) £16.95 A mix of mushroom, rice, cashews and almonds, topped with cranberries, chestnuts and brie cheese. Wrapped in puff pastry and served with dauphinoise potatoes and fresh vegetables 6 Hour Slow Roasted Pork Belly £17.95 (Its alright, you don't have to wait that long) Served with mashed potato and vegetables with crackling and rich gravy

Wagu Burger 10 oz. 100% Wagu Beef Burger Hand formed from nothing but ground Wagu beef and my own secret seasoning mix, served in a brioche bun with Cheese and Bacon, chunky chips or jacket potato wedges, onion rings and a selection of sauces £18.95

The Best Steaks in the county All served with mushrooms, tomato, salad garnish & choice of Herby dice, chips or jacket potato

Rib Eye £22.50 Fillet £24.95

Freshly made steak sauces Why not add creamy Pepper sauce, made with brandy, cream and red wine or Red wine sauce, a reduction of red wine with rosemary and redcurrant jelly £3.50

Our Famous Ringlestone Pies All of our pies are served with a choice of new potatoes, chips, herby dice or jacket potato and either a selection of seasonal vegetables or a fresh garden salad with our own special honey and mustard dressing

Virtual Tour of Ringlestone Inn

Ringlestone Inn

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